Mauricio Pochettino insists he is not searching for an excuse as he suggests teams like Stoke City are extra-motivated for a game at Wembley Stadium.

Stoke are this weekend embarking on their sixth visit to Wembley but it will be their first when league points are at stake.

Tottenham are renting England headquarters while they redevelop White Hart Lane – but their boss thinks that presents a different challenge.

He said in his press conference today: “When we arrived (at Spurs) three-and-a-half years ago the challenge was to be competitive, to build a team to arrive at the new stadium and try to do what we are doing now in the Champions League.

“We are ahead of the plan. The stadium we are going to will help the team and the club a lot, we are sure, because the stadium is fantastic – and to play again in your home is much better than how we are playing now.

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Tottenham Hotspur are spending one season at Wembley while White Hart Lane is redeveloped. (Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“One thing is so important: how the opponent and the people see Wembley. That is fantastic, Wembley, to play in and it’s not to blame Wembley or an excuse.

“But of course when the opponent comes to play us it’s a massive, historic day because for many clubs it’s so difficult to achieve playing there, and today that is easy because you come to play there in the Premier League.

“That is a massive motivation for the opponent, and that is always an extra challenge – that not only are you competing with the opponent, also with massive motivation too and that extra effort that a team puts in a moment like when you are playing in this type of stadium.”

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Davinson Sanchez walks off after being red carded during the Premier League match between Watford and Tottenham Hotspur. (Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

He added: “Still we are assessing some players and how they finished after Apoel. Some have some small issues. I'm going to decide the starting XI (on Saturday).

“It was very good to finish well the Champions League group stage. It was important after a few games that we could not win, to win again. For different players it was very positive to play the game, to play 90 minutes, players that don't have the possibility to play regularly in the starting XI.

“Also it's important to increase the competition between them and build their confidence, like GK Nkoudou or Juan Foyth or Fernando Llorente, who scored. It's so important because we have ahead a busy period.

“It looks now that we are going to need all the squad, every player fit and confident, because we are going to need everyone to play.”